If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Melissa and her '01 Jetta Wolfsburg

In the world of modified cars, it has always been apparent that men typically dominate this sport. Once in a great while someone of the opposite sex comes along to give us guys a good run for our money, and keep us on our toes. Melissa Rickman shows us her 2001 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition a great example of what some ingenuity and clean modifications can be done to help stand out from the rest. Combined with some extra power-adders in the engine performance department this southern California surfer girl has no problem showing guys her taillights in a hurry.

First modifications came slowly for her Jetta but it wasnĂ˘â‚¬â„˘t long before one modification turned into two, then three and it seemed snow balled from there. The power plant is a factory 1.8-liter turbocharged four cylinder. An AEM cold air intake helps the engine accumulate more air under high revs while the turbo creates optimum boost levels, around 18 psi or just a hare above one bar. The Greedy front mount intercooler keeps the incoming air temps down on those long drives up the coast, while the Forge 007 diverter valve keeps boost pressure from overwhelming the intercooler piping during high speed shifts. An Energy Suspension polyurethane motor mount kit helps keep the engine from excessive torque flex under hard acceleration.

Before the exhaust gasses escape from the custom bent exhaust system that was installed by Ed HansonĂ˘â‚¬â„˘s exhaust shop located in El Cajon, California, an APR chip controls the air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber as well as controlling the optimum spark timing curve with two different settings. The APR chip allows Melissa to select either 91 or the 100 octane race gas setting by pressing her cruise control button a certain number of times in a row, which causes her check engine light to flash back at her with a number of distinct flashes letting her know what setting she is on.

Power is fed through a factory 5 speed transmission that has been equipped with a Peloquin limited slip differential unit giving Melissa the added bonus of equal power to both front wheels, instead of a traction robbing single tire fryer open differential. Shifting gears is made easier with the aid of a SPEC stage 3 clutch and the addition of a G60 resurfaced and lightened flywheel, giving the engine better quicker revving capabilities which in turn allows the 1.8 liter to build boost faster when the go pedal is pushed to the floor.

Suspension duties are handled with a Weitec GT cup kit, the spring and shock package give the Jetta a 60mm drop on all four corners helping give the car a more aggressive stance. Melissa removed the stock rear sway bar as well in favor of a Neuspeed 28mm bar to further assist in the handling department. Enkei 18x8 ZR1 rollers are mated with a set of Yokohama AVS ES100 keep the car glued to the road thru hard corners.

Melissa choose the Projektzwo full body kit to go with the exterior styling of the car. Black Mt Auto Body in Miramar, California colored matched the body kit and molded the front and rear bumpers into the cars main structure to help clean up the bodylines. Unfortunately right after Melissa got the car back from the body shop she got into a fender bender and had to have the car sent back to Black Mt Auto Body to have them fix the damage. The result is what you see as everything was carefully pieced back together. The rear truck received the Ă˘â‚¬Ĺ“BoraĂ˘â‚¬Âť badge treatment, as well as a color matched Ă˘â‚¬Ĺ“VWĂ˘â‚¬Âť emblem to go with the rest of the cars styling. Smoked taillights from Hella tie the back end of the car nicely while the rear fog light has been re-wired to act as a third brake light. Smoked side markers installed on the front fenders go along with the rear tail lenses. A Kamei badge-less grill helps maintain the clean lines on the front end, while Sylvania Silverstar headlights mated up with a set of color matched eyebrows over the head lamp lenses give the rest of the front end that aggressive look.

Interior styling is put together with a set of Audi TT pedals while VDO boost, oil temp and oil pressure gauges have been custom mounted into the center consol to help keep an eye on engine vitals. In car entertainment is kept in tune through a Kenwood KDC-4022 head unit while an Alpine 800 watt amplifier puts power to the twin JL 12Ă˘â‚¬â„˘ subs mounted in a sealed box in the truck of the car.

MelissaĂ˘â‚¬â„˘s Jetta clearly shows that itĂ˘â‚¬â„˘s not just the guys in the industry that are making headway in the world of modifying. MelissaĂ˘â‚¬â„˘s ideas have given her a great looking car and still leaves room for more later on down the road after she finishes school at Colorado University. In the future she would like to have a GT28RS turbo installed for added power as well as more tuning to help the engine handled the added boost levels. Molding in the side skirts to the rest of the car is also an idea for the future to clean up the rest of the body lines and give Melissa something a bit different from the norm, which is what we are all looking for to keep ourselves apart from the rest of the European car enthusiast community.

Pimpin since pimpin been pimpin!
I'm not retarded....just tarded from the get go!
doo-dee-dooo....ho-dee-humm... _____________________no slackin in my mack'n
my hand has 4 fingers....and also a thumb. _____________no slippin in my pimpin